JustTV Ratings

JustTV News

The Rutlanders

My Mother's Son

Daily Reviews

Deathwatch 2002

Message Board

Mountain Range

This ratings scenario entails two series sandwiching up to three weaker ones. One of the weaker series, the one that airs in the middle, draws more viewers than the two other weaker series, though not as many as the bread in the sandwich.

What The Networks Do: The network continually tries new series in the weakest two slot of the scenario, trying to turn the night into a high plateau.

Examples: NBC Thursday, ABC Wednesday
 

The Valley
This ratings scenario entails, normally, three series, the two end shows drawing very high, with the middle series falling off.This is one of the more common scenarios on night when dramatic series predominate.

What The Networks Do: If the middle series is in a tough slot, the network may leave it. Otherwise, they try new series in the middle slot, hoping something sticks, trying to turn it into a high plateau.

Examples: CBS Tuesday & Saturday; NBC Friday; ABC Sunday.
 

Single Peak
This ratings scenario entails one series, airing in the middle of the night, drawing the highest ratings, with the other series trailing off before and after. This the most common scenario. It is also known at a "tent-pole."

What The Networks Do: Normall, the network will try to strengthen the 8pm and the 10pm slots, hoping to turn the night into at least a mountain range, at most turn the night into a high plateau.

Examples: CBS Monday & Thursday; Fox Wednesday & Sunday; NBC Tuesday & Sunday, ABC Tuesday
 

Coastal Plain
This ratings scenario entails up to five series, with the very last  or last two series drawing the highest ratings of the night.

What The Networks Do: Often, they try to find a strong show for the 8pm hour, hoping to strengthen the 9pm slot.

Examples: NBC Monday & Wednesday, Fox Saturday
 
 

Gradual Mountain Incline
This ratings scenario entails up to five series, with the very last drawing the highest ratings of the night. How it differs from the large coastal plain is that the series steady progress in the ratings through the night

What The Networks Do: Often, nothing.  Since 8pm is the weakest hour (as it usually is), they are genarally pleased with this scenario.

Examples: ABC Monday & Thursday, CBS Friday, WB Thursday
 

Gradual Mountain Decline
This ratings scenario entails up to five series, the the very first drawing the highest numbers of the night.

What The Networks Do: Often, alot. The fact the the 8pm series is the strong shows how weak the rest of the night is, and they often throw shows in the later slots to see if something will stick.

Examples: UPN Tuesday & Wednesday, WB Monday, Fox Monday & Friday, CBS Wednesday, ABC Friday
 

Coastal lowland
This scenario entails up to five series, all of which draw similar ratings through the night. Unfortunately, the ratings are very low

What The Networks Do: Often, the try to revamp the entire night.

Examples: WB Sunday, UPN Friday, NBC Saturday, Fox Thursday
 

Mid-Altitude Plain
This scenario entails up to five series, which all draw similar ratings though the night. Often, the ratings are mediocre, but solid.

What The Networks Do: With ratings too solid to call for a complete over hall, the network usually tries to tinker with individual series on the night, but usually end up with the same, mediocre results.

Examples: WB Wednesday, ABC Saturday
 

High-Altitude Plain
This scenario involves up to 5 series, but normally only two. The series all draw similar ratings through the night, but they are very high (for network standards)

What The Networks Do: Usually nothing, but sometimes they try to remove one series and place it on a weaker night.

Examples: WB Tuesday, UPN Monday; Thursday
 

Coastal Mountain
The opposite of the coastal plain, this one is the coastal mountain. The lead-off series does very well, but the rest of the shows on the night level off into obscurity.

What The Networks Do: Usually, they try to take advantage of the strong opening and air new series at 9pm (or 8pm for Sundays). Sometimes this works. Sometimes it doesn't.

Examples: Fox Tuesday, CBS Sunday
 

Twin Peaks
Somewhat like the signal peak, this scenario has two peaks with two valleys.

What The Networks Do: They usually try and sandwich new series in the weaker slots, though the only network with the situation at present is content to leave things as is.

Examples: WB Friday